Whiffletree-center



(No Model.) 5 J. EDGAR.

WHIPFLETREBUBNTBR. l

No. 372,365. Patented Nov. 1.1887.

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JOIIN EDGAR, OF ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA.

'WHIFFLETREE-CENTER.

SPECIFICATION 'forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,365, dated November l, 1887.

Application tiled February 25, i887. Serial No. 228,823. (No model.) l

ypass a loose bolt through the whilletree' or evener and through the support and secure it in place by a nut on its end. This bolt soon becomes loose in its place, and the evener or Whiffletree plays thereon, increasing the wear of the parts, causing them to rattle, and often jarring off the nut, so that the bolt is liable to get out of place.

The object that I have in view is to provide a strong, compact, and durable joint for anV evener or whiiiletree, that shall be free from the objections that arise f rom the use of a loose bolt in thisposition.

Theinvention consists, generally, in the construction and combination hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure lis a cross-section of a carriage or Wagon pole having an evener secured thereto by my improved joint and with two Whittletrees, each secured to the evener by a similar joint. Fig. 2`is a plan of the hub'that is secured to the Whifiietree or evener center. Fig. `3 is a vertical section through the hub and iixed axle. Fig. et is a similar view with the parts separated. Fig. 5 is a section at right angles to the plane of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the hub and axle, showing a different means for locking the parts together.

In the drawings, '2 represents a portion of a carriage-pole, or it may represent any other suitable support for a Whiffletree or evener.

3 represents an ordinary evener or doubletree that is secured to the pole 2.

4 represents ordinary whiftletrees, that are secured to the ends of the evener. This evener issecured to the pole, and the whiftletrees are each secured to the evener by my improved joint, hereinafter described.

5 represents an axle or stud, that is secured rigidly to the pole or other support and forms a iixed center about which the tree has a pivoted or oscillating movement. Ahub, 7, having a central bore that fils closely upon the axle 5, is secured to the tree and turns with it upon theiixed axle 5.

I prefer to secure the axle rigidly to or form it integrally with aplate, 9, that can be secured to the pole or other support by bolts 19 or other suitable means.

To secure the tree in place and prevent its hub 7 from coming olf the axle 5, and at the same ti me to form a dust or sand guard for the joint, I prefer to form the plate 9 with a vertical ring, l0, that is concentric with t-he axle 5. Near the top of, this ring I provide av flange, .13, that projects toward the center. I also provide the hub 7 with a plate, ll, by which it may be secured to the tree, having a dust-ring, l2, that fits around t-he ring l() on the plate 9. The hub 7 is also provided with a horizontal flange, 15, below the plate Il, that is adapted to lock under the iiange 13 on the ring l0.

The flange l5 does not extend entirely around the hub 7, that portion that is free from the flange being brought over the flange 13. The hub can be slipped onto the axle until the ange l5 is below the ilange 13, when the hub may be given a half-revolution, and the ilange I5vwill be carried under the iiange 13 and the hub will be securely locked to the axle and can be removed only by reversing this movement. l In applying the device the parts will be so arranged that it will be necessary to turn the evener' or whiitletree so that its rear side will be in front a-nd the hub will be brought over theaxle in this position. Theevener or whiffletree will then be reversed, and Vthereby locked in place. As it will be impossible to reverse the tree while in use, it will be seen that it cannot be rcrnovedhby any accidental means.

A rubber or other packing,l7, may be placed around the axle 5, where it will be compressed by the iiange 15, and will cause a close fit to be made between the anges l5 and 13. lith this device the whiiiietrees may be above the evener, as shown in Fig. l, or they may be conveniently hung below the evener, thus bringing the line of draft down to the surface of the pole. Another advantage is that all hammer-straps and clevises may be dispensed IOO end of the axle need not extend through the Wood. I do not, however, confine myself to this means for securing the hub to the fixed axle, as I may use other means for this pu rposc. In Fig. G I have shown the end of the fixed axle u extending through the hub and whiflletree and provided on its end with an ordinary nut. These centers may be put upon the market independently of the carriages, and be applied to any carriage by the user thereof.

I elaiin as my invention- A whifietree or evener eentcrconlprising a plate, 9, adapted to be secured to a suitable support, a projecting spindle, 5, secured rigidly to said plate, a plate, 7, adapted to be secured to the whifiletree or evener and provided with a hub fitting upon said spindle, and a looking device securing said hub upon said spindle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have'hereunto set my hand this 17th day of February, 1887.

JOHN EDGAR.

In presence of- C. J. PORTER, ARTHUR L. Goins. 

